Microstructure control and DRX characteristics of Ni–Co–W superalloys affected by changing deformation direction on [001] columnar grain

Controlling the evolution process of columnar grains is benefits to achieve microstructure regulation during subsequent hot processing in superalloys. In present research, it takes a Ni–Co–W superalloy as an example, aims to clarify the underlying connections between the compression direction and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behaviors in microstructure evolution. The compression direction (CD) was parallel or perpendicular to [001] columnar has been defined as CD∥[001] and CD⊥[001], respectively. The columnar evolution and DRX characteristics under two sets of experimental during hot deformation were identified deeply. The results show that complete DRX is more easily to occur when CD⊥[001], but fine DRX grains are tendency to form when CD∥[001]. DRX nucleation within CD∥[001] and CD⊥[001] deformed microstructure under dislocation energy was discussed deeply. The critical size of nucleation is decreased while the nucleation density is increased in CD∥[001] with high dislocation density, which benefits to form numerous fine DRX grains along the original columnar boundaries. In addition, according to Taylor factors (TFs) criterion, TFs difference will always existed in CD∥[001], which promotes the necklace structure gradually replaced columnar structure and some of them developed into fine DRX bands. With increasing of trues strain, TFs difference gradually decreased in CD⊥[001], DRX nucleation was inhibited, thus the existed DRX grains further grow and finally coarse DRX grains were obtained. The findings clarified the flow behaviors and DRX characteristics of [001] columnar in two directions, and then proposed a microstructure control mechanism of superalloys with [001] columnar based on deformation vector and evolution decomposition.